ORLANDO, Fla. -- Tony Mitchell has heard two Detroit Pistons head coaches wonder aloud and publicly about whether he grasps the work load necessary to succeed as a borderline NBA player.

His only guarantee is contractual. In that sense, he is safe next year.

But to crack a crowded front line, the second-year forward has to shed the low-motor label that dogged him in college and continued through last season, when then-interim coach John Loyer openly said Mitchell needs to work harder.

Already this offseason, Stan Van Gundy, the new president of basketball operations and head coach, has called Mitchell's workouts "a little inconsistent" and said the player "works hard when he's here."

It's a tag Mitchell is trying to shake at Orlando Pro Summer League, where the Pistons are 2-0 entering today's 5 p.m. game against the Miami Heat.

"Coming out (of college), my effort was questioned," Mitchell said. "So I just try to show everybody that I can work and I'm that type of player. I'm trying to develop just like everybody else."

Developing in summer league, where everyone has something to prove, is not an easy task.

For Mitchell, that includes starting at center, against naturally bigger men, for someone who is only an average-sized power forward.

"You've got bigs and you have to be physical with them unless you want to be embarrassed," he said. "It's man amongst boys down there, you've got to be a man and face them."

Mitchell has averaged nine points and three rebounds in 20 minutes per summer-league game.

Though there is no foul-out rule in summer league, Mitchell also has taken himself out of the flow to some degree by picking up 11 fouls in two games.

"That's just me being too physical out there," he said. "I just picked up stupid fouls in the games, especially early."

Mitchell said he might have to mix in a little of his own offense here, just to show the coaches he can.

More important, as he said himself, is "continuing to be consistent."

"We had a tough season last year," Mitchell said. "Guys like (Rodney) Stuckey and Greg Monroe, those guys, just watching them, working in the gym, I just try to imitate them and do the things that they did, and work hard."